Multi Use Magnetic Food Tray

ABSTRACT

A food serving tray system comprising press fitted magnetic inserts and a combination of independent multi-use peel and stick plastic coated metal discs wherein the discs can be adhered by the user to exterior base of any number of existing dinnerware, drinkware, plastic paper plate holders, or electronic gadgets to allow them to be magnetically attracted to said tray, and comprising of a press fitted magnet in said tray central to the plate location causing the user&#39;s fork to automatically retrack back to the center of the plate when not in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

No. 62/701,773

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a personal multi-use magnetic food tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to personal food trays used for transporting and eating a meal away from the kitchen, or dining room table such as in front of one's TV, in bed, or an outdoor setting and is more particularly directed to an improvement in a food tray relating to prevention of spills and overturning of food and drink, while providing an easy access convinces of electronic devices such one's TV remote, or cell phone.

Currently there are several solutions for carrying food and beverages away from the kitchen, or dining room table. Some of these solutions attempt to allow the user to carry their food and drink on a flat tray, but these solutions fail to meet the needs of the industry because the items on the tray are not stationary and allow the plate, drink container, and eating utensils to slide around on the tray and easily move, tip over, or fall off when moving about from one place to another. Even when sitting in a stationary position the tray can be bumped and cause the drink container to spill, or tip over making a mess.

Past solutions have attempted to add magnetic strips or sheets under a tray and manufacture specialized dinner and drinkware with metal plates molded in to hold them to the tray. These solutions however are similarly unable to meet the needs of the industry because these types of trays are heavy, cumbersome and costly to make, as well as are the dinnerware and drinkware pieces and very limited in their use. This forces the end users to use only custom designed dinner and drinkware made specially for the tray and does not allow them to use their own dinner and drinkware, and not practical for eating outdoors.

Other solutions design trays with metal in them and specialized dinner and drinkware with embedded magnets in the bottom which become a problem when placed in a dishwasher by attracting any other metal objects to them in the washer. It also limits how many different types of dinner and drinkware that can be used and does not allow the user to use their own drink, and dinnerware. They do not allow the user to magnetically attach their TV remote or cell phone to the tray for convenient use while eating a meal away from the table. They further do not allow the user to use a plastic paper plate holder to magnetically attach to the tray for outdoor eating, such as an outdoor cookout, or camping.

Still other solutions seek to allow the user to carry food on a tray with sidewalls, but these solutions also fail to meet industry needs because the diner and drinkware can still move around and allow food and drink to slide off or tip over making a mess. These types of trays are bulky and are not convenient for storing or packing for on the go such as outdoor picnics, or camping.

This invention of a low profile multi use food tray in combination with independent thin peel and stick plastic coated metal discs that can be adhered to the bottom exterior of an unlimited number of the users pre-existing plates, cups, mugs, wine glasses, plastic drink cups or plastic paper plate holders allows them to magnetically attach to the tray to prevent spillage of food and drink, even a glass of wine while being transported or consumed away from their kitchen table. To release one's drink glass from the magnet the user simply just tips it forward for a smooth, easy release.

It also allows the user to magnetically attach their TV remote, cell phone, and other small devices to the tray for convince while eating a meal away from the kitchen table, outdoors, by the pool, in bed, on a boat, or camping, by simply applying a thin peel and stick plastic coated disc to their bottom exterior surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a system for a magnetic food tray to allow its user to transport and safely consume a meal, snacks, and drink away from the kitchen table without the worry of spilling, that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art. It is also an object to provide a means where the user can use an unlimited number of their own existing dinner and drinkware, TV remote, or cell phone in conjunction with the magnetic tray to make them magnetically attach to the tray by simply adding a thin peel and stick plastic coated metal disc to the bottom of any existing plate, cup, wine glass, TV remote, or cell phone.

Furthermore, it is the object of this invention to provide the user a light weight, low profile magnetic tray that can be used in any setting to give the user a convenient means to consume their food and drink at a backyard cookout, camping, boating, or lounging by the pool by simply adding a thin peel and stick metal disc to any existing common plastic paper plate holder, non-breakable plastic cup, plate, mug, or wine glass.

Another object is to provide a dishwasher safe, thin peel and stick metal disc system to be applied to the exterior bottom of any existing dinner, or drinkware that apart from the magnetic tray would have no magnetic attraction to other objects that are placed in a dishwasher with them. With the peel and stick discs, the user has an inexpensive option to use any of their existing dinner and drinkware for multiple occasions indoor, or out.

A further object of this invention is to have a low profile, light weight magnetic food tray that can be made from various types of food grade plastics, wood, or metal that could rest on a user's lap as they consume their food or drink pretty much anywhere, they choose and be easily stored when not in use.

An additional object of this invention is to have a multi-use magnetic food tray that could be used by a right or left handed person by simply turning the tray to the right or left position on their lap, and would have a centrally located magnet under the area of the food plate that would cause the user's fork to magnetically attract back to the center of the plate when not in use.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a portable, low profile magnetic food and drink tray that can be printed on or engraved with sports logos, corporate logos and trademarks, custom graphics, cartoon caricatures, superheroes, or photographic images, for personalization and promotional purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross section of one embodiment showing recessed areas in the top surface for plate and glass placement, and recessed areas in the bottom for inserted magnets.

FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment that shows recesses in the top for plate and glass placement and a centering recess for a peel and stick plastic coated metal disc for retaining the plate and fork to the tray.

FIG. 3. is a cross section of the tray with a flat top for printing or engraving purposes and recess and press fitted cylinder magnets in the bottom.

FIG. 4. is a top view of one embodiment showing no plate and glass recesses in the top for the purpose of printing or engraving on the surface.

FIG. 5. is one embodiment that shows a cross section of the tray with a flat top for printing, recess and press fitted cylinder magnets in the bottom, rubber feet to prevent

tray movement while being used in conjunction with a forward moving vehicle such as a boat or motor vehicle.

FIG. 6. is a cross section of one embodiment of a peel and stick plastic coated metal disc adhered to the flat bottom of a flat bottom glass or cup.

FIG. 7. is a cross section of one embodiment of a peel and stick convex plastic coated metal disc adhered to the concaved bottom of a glass or cup.

FIG. 8. is a cross section of one embodiment of multiple peel and stick plastic coated metal disc stacked and adhered to the recessed bottom of a glass or cup.

FIG. 9. is a cross section of one embodiment of a peel and stick plastic coated metal disc adhered to the flat bottom of a common dinner plate.

FIG. 10. is a cross section of one embodiment of the plate, and glass that are magnetically attached by peel and stick plastic coated metal disc adhered to them setting in a recessed top section, with inserted magnets press fitted from the bottom, magnetically attracting a food fork automatically back to the center of the plate when not in use.

FIG. 11. is a cross section of one embodiment of the plate, and glass that are magnetically attached by peel and stick plastic coated metal disc adhered to them setting in a flat top section, with inserted magnets press fitted from the bottom.

FIG. 12. is a cross section of one embodiment of a flat peel and stick plastic coated metal disc, and a convex peel and stick plastic coated metal disc.

FIG. 13. is one embodiment of a thin flat peel and stick plastic coated metal disc attached to the back side of a cell phone that allow it to magnetically attach to said tray.

FIG. 14. is a cross section of one embodiment of a flat peel and stick plastic coated metal disc attached to the bottom of a cell phone that allow it to magnetically attach to said tray.

FIG. 15. is one embodiment of a thin flat peel and stick plastic coated metal disc attached to the back side of a TV remote that allow it to magnetically attach to said tray.

FIG. 16. is a cross section of one embodiment of a flat peel and stick plastic coated metal disc attached to the bottom of a TV remote that allow it to magnetically attach to said tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a multi-use magnetic food tray comprising of press fitted cylinder type magnets in combination with thin peel and stick plastic coated dinner, and drinkware attachment discs system that allow the user to magnetically attach an unlimited number of their pre-existing dinner and drinkware to said tray to prevent spillage while transporting or consuming food away from their kitchen table.

This disclosure will now provide a more detailed and specific description that will refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and specific descriptions of the drawings, as well as any specific or alternative embodiments discussed, are intended to be read in conjunction with the entirety of this disclosure. The multi-use magnetic food tray may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and fully convey understanding to those skilled in the art.

In its most complete version, the device is comprised of the following components, a horizontal food tray comprising of several manufacturing materials, and processes, with or without handles. It may comprise of a low profile tray made of hollow blow molded plastic, single sided injection molded plastic, solid molded or extruded plastic, or various solid hardwoods, as well as stamped metal.

Furthermore, said base tray may comprise of small recessed areas that may be molded, drilled, or routed from the top or bottom into the base tray. This will provide an easy and inexpensive way to attach the magnets to the tray where they would be press fitted and locked into recesses without having to use messy adhesives and magnetize only specific areas of the tray. Each recess contains a small magnet that give the said tray the ability to magnetically attract to said magnet a small, thin universal peel and stick plastic coated metal disc that may be attached to any existing piece of dinnerware, drinkware, TV remote, cell phone, and other small devices to hold them to said tray without tipping over or falling off to prevent spillage and electronic device convince while transporting or consuming food and drink away from the kitchen or dining room table.

Still further the said base tray comprises of a central press fitted cylinder magnet directly under the center placement of the food plate with a said thin peel and stick plastic coated metal disc attached, with said magnet automatically attracting the user's food fork back to the center of the plate setting in an upright position when not in use.

As is shown in more detail in FIG. 12: A, B said tray will come equipped with thin peel and stick plastic coated discs to be applied by the user to any existing drink, dinnerware, TV remote, or cell phone. Disc FIG. 12: A said discs are designed to be applied with peel and stick two sided tape to any flat bottom glass, cup, mug, plate, TV remote, or cell phone as shown in FIG. 6, 13, 15. Said discs can also be stuck to each other in a stacking fashion to be used on any coffee mugs, plates, or glasses that may have a rim around the bottom or that may be recessed as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 12: B is designed to be applied with peel and stick two sided tape to the bottom of any glass, cup, or mug with a concave bottom as in FIG. 7.

The top surface of said tray may comprise of recessed areas for a plate and cups as shown in FIG. 1 or may comprise of a flat top surface as shown in FIG. 3. In some versions of the invention the base tray may be printed on by various forms of printing, hot stamped, or engraved with sports logos, corporate logos and trademarks, custom graphics, cartoon caricatures, superheroes, photo graphic images, for personalization and promotional usage. In one specific version of the invention, said tray may have rubber feet added to the bottom to prevent it from moving around on a surface that is in forward motion such as that of a boat, motorhome, or other similar vehicles.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a diagram is shown illustrating a side view of one version of said magnetic tray. FIG. 1:2 represents a recessed area in which any existing common food plate would rest in the tray. FIG. 1:3 represents a recessed area in which any existing common drink cup, or glass would rest in said tray. FIG. 1:4 represents a small recessed area that would accommodate said flat plastic-coated metal disc that is double face taped to the bottom of any common food plate, designed to prevent the plate from rocking on said attached plastic-coated metal disc. FIG. 1:5 represents a recess that can be molded, drilled, or cnc cut into the tray which said magnet represented by FIG. 1:6 of said cylinder magnet press fitted into said tray to be the magnetic force magnetically attracting the said plastic-coated metal disc attached to the bottom of any plate represented by FIG. 9:3. FIG. 1:6 represents the said magnet pressed into said recess FIG. 1:5. FIG. 1-9: A, B represents small lock plugs serve as a locking mechanism to permanently lock said magnet into said recess.

Referring now to FIG. 2 a diagram is shown illustrating a top view of one version of said tray. FIG. 2:1 represents said tray. FIG. 2:2 represents said recessed area in which a common food plate would rest down in said tray. FIG. 2.3 represents a small recessed area that would accommodate said flat plastic-coated metal disc that is double face taped to the bottom of a food any pre-exiting plate, designed to prevent the plate from rocking on said attached plastic-coated metal disc. represents a recessed area where a drink glass, cup, mug, or an electronic device such as a TV remote or cell phone would rest on tray and be magnetically attached. FIG. 2.4 represents a small recessed area that would accommodate said flat plastic-coated metal disc that is double face taped to the bottom of a food any pre-exiting plate, designed to prevent the plate from rocking on said attached plastic-coated metal disc.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a diagram is shown illustrating a side view of one version of said tray with a flat top that would allow for screen printing, hot stamped or adhesive decal graphics applied to the flat top surface. FIG. 3:1 represents said tray. FIG. 3:2 represents a small recessed area that accommodate the said plastic-coated metal disc that is double face taped to the bottom of any food plate, designed to prevent the plate from rocking on the attached plastic-coated metal disc. FIG. 3:3 represents a small recess into said tray where a magnet represented in FIG. 3:4 to be press fitted and permanently locked into said tray. FIG. 3:4 represents said magnet that provides the magnetic force to hold a plate to the tray, that has had said plastic peel and stick plastic-coated metal disc represented by FIG. 12: A or B. FIG. 3:5 represents a lock plug press fitted to lock said magnet in place in FIG. 3:4. FIG. 3:7 represents a small recess into said tray where a magnet represented in FIG. 3:8 to be press fitted and permanently locked into said tray. FIG. 3:8 represents said magnet that provides the magnetic force to hold any cup, mug, glass, TV remote, cell phone and other small electronic devices to said tray, that has had said plastic peel and stick plastic-coated metal disc represented by FIG. 12: A or B. attached to their bottom exterior surface. FIG. 3:9 represents a lock plug press fitted to lock said magnet in place in FIG. 3:8.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a diagram is shown illustrating a top view of one version of the magnetic tray that would allow for screen printed, hot stamped or adhesive decal graphics applied to the top surface. FIG. 4:1 representing said tray. FIG. 4:2 represents a small recessed area that would accommodate said flat plastic-coated metal disc that is double face taped to the bottom of a food plate, designed to prevent the plate from rocking on the attached plastic metal coated disc.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a diagram is shown illustrating a side view of one version of said tray with a flat top that would allow for screen printing, hot stamped or adhesive decal graphics applied to the flat top surface shown is FIG. 3:1 with rubber feet on the bottom of said tray.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a diagram is shown illustrating a flat plastic coated metal disc with double sided tape on one side as shown in FIG. 12: A to be adhered to any flat surface glass, cup or mug. FIG. 6:1 represents double tape adhered to said plastic-coated metal disc represented in FIG. 6:2 then adhered to the bottom of any flat glass, cup or mug represented by FIG. 6:3 FIG. 6:2 represents said plastic-coated metal disc that is adhered with double sided tape to the bottom of a flat glass, cup or mug represented by FIG. 6:3 that provides the magnetic attraction to the magnets press fitted into the base tray represent FIG. 10 & FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a diagram is shown illustrating a convex plastic-coated metal disc with double sided tape on concaved side to be adhered to convex surfaced container as shown in FIG. 7:3. FIG. 7:1 represents double tape adhered to the plastic coated metal convex disc represented in FIG. 7:2 then adhered to the bottom of a concave glass, cup or mug represented by FIG. 7:3 FIG. 7:2 represents a plastic-coated metal convex disc that is adhered with double sided tape to the bottom of a concave glass, cup or mug represented by FIG. 7:3 that provides the magnetic attraction to the magnets press fitted into the base tray represent in FIG. 10 & FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a diagram is shown illustrating a flat plastic-coated disc with double sided tape on one side, stacked together to create a thicker flat plastic-coated metal disc to be adhered to flat deep recessed surfaces. FIG. 8:1 represents said double sided tape adhered to said plastic-coated metal disc represented in FIG. 8:2,4 then adhered to the bottom of any flat glass, cup or mug with a deep recess represented by FIG. 8:3 FIG. 8:2,4 represents multiple flat and or convex said plastic-coated metal discs that are adhered to each other said double sided tape to create a thicker plastic-coated metal disc to be adhered to the bottom of any flat, or concaved glass, cup or mug with a deep recessed bottom represented by FIG. 8:3 that provides the magnetic attraction to the magnets press fitted into the base tray represent in FIG. 10 & FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a diagram is shown illustrating a flat plastic-coated metal disc with double sided tape on one side to be adhered to flat surfaces. FIG. 9:1 represents any flat food plate. FIG. 9:2 represents double sided tape adhered between said plastic-coated metal disc represented in FIG. 9:3 and the flat food late represented in FIG. 9:1 FIG. 9:3 is the said plastic-coated metal disc that provides the magnetic attraction to the magnets press fitted into the base tray represent in FIG. 10 & FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a diagram is shown illustrating one example of the complete assembly of said tray with magnets pressed into small recess from the bottom, a plate with plastic-coated metal disc adhered to the plate with double sided tape, and the glass with plastic coated metal disc adhered to any glass, cup, mug, or electronic device with double sided tape. FIG. 10:1 represents said tray base with recessed areas for the plate and, glass, cup, or mug to rest below the top surface. FIG. 10:2 represents one version of the tray with a recessed area below the top surface for the plate represented in FIG. 10:3 to rest in. FIG. 10:3 represents a small recess, molded, drilled, or cnc cut into the base tray to accommodate the flat plastic-coated metal disc represented in FIG. 10:4 to prevent the plate from rocking on said plastic-coated metal disc. FIG. 10:5 represents a small recess, molded, drilled, or cnc cut into bottom side of said base tray to retain the magnet represents in FIG. 10:6. FIG. 10:6 represents said magnet. FIG. 10:7 represents any flat food plate. FIG. 10:8 represents one version of the tray with recessed area for the drink glass, cup, or mug to sit on. FIG. 10:9 represents two sided tape used to attach said plastic coated-metal disc represented by FIG. 10:10 to the glass, cup, mug, or electronic device represented by FIG. 10:12. FIG. 10:10 represents said plastic-coated metal disc that is magnetically attracted to the magnet in the tray represented by FIG. 10:11. FIG. 10:11 represents said magnet press fitted into the recess in the tray represented by FIG. 10:14. FIG. 10:12 represents any pre-existing glass, cup, mug, or electronic device. FIG. 10:13 represents the double sided tape adhered between the plate represented in FIG. 10:7 and the plate and plastic-coated metal disc represented by FIG. 10:4. FIG. 10:14 represents a small recess, molded, drilled, or cut into the bottom of the base tray to retain the said attracting magnet represented in FIG. 10:11. FIG. 10: 13 represents the double face tape that hold the plastic coated metal disk to the bottom of the plate shown in FIG. 10:7. FIG. 10: 15, 16 represents lock plugs that lock the magnets in place as shown in FIG. 10: 6, 14. FIG. 10:17 represents any common food fork held into position by said magnet shown if FIG. 10:6

Referring now to FIG. 11, a diagram is shown illustrating one example of the complete assembly of said tray with a flat top with magnets pressed into small recess from the bottom, a plate with plastic-coated metal disc adhered to the plate with double sided tape, and the glass with plastic coated metal disc adhered to any glass, cup, mug, or electronic device with double sided tape. FIG. 11:1 represents said tray base. FIG. 11:2 represents a small recess, molded, drilled, or cnc cut into said base tray to accommodate said flat plastic-coated metal disc represented in FIG. 11:3 to prevent the plate from rocking on the plastic-coated metal disc. FIG. 11:4 represents a small recess, molded, drilled, or cnc cut into bottom side of the base tray to retain the magnet represent in FIG. 11:5. FIG. 11:5 represents said magnet press fitted into said recess in said tray represented by FIG. 11:4 that attracts the plate to said tray. FIG. 11:6 represents the lock plug that locks said magnet in place shown in FIG. 11:5. FIG. 11: 7 represents any pre-existing plate with said plastic coated metal disc attached to the bottom. FIG. 11:8 represents any glass, cup, mug or electronic device. FIG. 11:9 represents said plastic-coated peel and stick metal disc that is adhered to the bottom of any cup, glass, mug, TV remote, or cell phone as shown in FIG. 11:8 and is magnetically attracted to said magnet in said tray represented by FIG. 11:11. FIG. 11:10 represents a small recess, molded, drilled, or cnc cut into bottom side of said base tray to retain said magnet represent in FIG. 11:11 that attracts the plate to said tray. FIG. 11: 12 represents the lock plug that locks said magnet FIG. 11:11 in place.

Referring now to FIG. 12: A, B, represents a diagram is shown illustrating one example of a flat, and convex plastic-coated metal discs with double sided tape adhered to them. FIG. 12: A1 represents a flat plastic coating. FIG. 12: A2 represents a metal disc. FIG. 12: B1 represents a plastic coating with convex shape on one side and flat shape on the other. FIG. 12: B2 represents a metal disc. These discs can be adhered by a peel and stick double-faced tape method to any type pre-existing food dinnerware or other devices made of plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, or stoneware to make them magnetically attract to said tray.

Referring now to FIG. 13 a rear view diagram of a common cell phone with a thin peel and stick plastic coated disc adhered to it. FIG. 13: 1 represents any common cell phone backside. FIG. 13:2 represents said peel and stick plastic coated disc.

Referring now to FIG. 14 a side view diagram of a common cell phone with a peel and stick plastic coated disc adhered to it. FIG. 14: 1 represents any common cell phone backside. FIG. 14:2 represents double face tape adhering FIG. 14:1 to FIG. 14:3. FIG. 14:3 represents said plastic coated metal disc.

Referring now to FIG. 15 a rear view diagram of a common TV remote with a thin peel and stick plastic coated disc adhered to it. FIG. 15: 1 represents any common TV remote backside. FIG. 15:2 represents said peel and stick plastic coated disc.

Referring now to FIG. 16 a side view diagram of a common TV remote with a peel and stick plastic coated disc adhered to it. FIG. 16: 1 represents any common TV remote backside. FIG. 16:2 represents double face tape adhering FIG. 16:1 to FIG. 16:3. FIG. 16:3 represents said plastic coated metal disc.

Different features, variations and multiple different embodiments have been shown and described with various details. What has been described in this application at times in terms of specific embodiments is done for illustrative purposes only and without the intent to limit or suggest that what has been conceived is only one embodiment or specific embodiments. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to any single specific embodiments or enumerated variations. Many modifications, variations and other embodiments will come to mind of those skilled in the art, and which are intended to be and are in fact covered by both this disclosure. It is indeed intended that the scope of this disclosure should be determined by a proper legal interpretation and construction of the disclosure, including equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the complete disclosure present at the time of filing. 

1) In a serving tray for transporting food associated with individuals eating a meal away from the kitchen table, said tray member being formed normally from durable plastic and other various substrates for holding the user's drink and dinnerware; the improvement wherein a base tray system comprising of press fitted cylinder type neodymium magnetics; a combination of independent multi-use peel and stick plastic coated metal discs wherein said discs can be adhered to the exterior base by the user to an unlimited number of the users existing dinnerware, drinkware, plastic paper plate holders, or small electronic gadgets to allow them to be magnetically attracted to said tray preventing spillage of food and drink while in transport or consuming a meal away from one's kitchen, or dining room table; and comprising of a central magnet press fitted into said tray under the food plate that comprises a recess in said tray retaining said peel and stick plastic coated metal disc adhered to the exterior base of any existing plate that causes the user's eating fork to automatically retract back in an upright position to the center of the plate when not in use. 